Seton Hall Women Reprise All-Access Role, Host Creighton

NEW YORK, NY – Following last season’s widely acclaimed all-access women’s basketball game between St. John’s and Seton Hall, FOX Sports furthers its commitment to innovation with two commercial-free, mic’d up BIG EAST contests, including a men’s college basketball telecast for the first time ever.

During the Providence at DePaul men’s basketball game Friday, Jan. 12, on FS1 (8:30 PM ET) and the Creighton at Seton Hall women’s basketball contest Tuesday, Jan. 2, on FS2 (7:00 PM ET), head coaches wear live microphones, giving viewers the chance to hear directly from the sidelines, huddles and locker rooms from tip-off through the final whistle and everything in between. Both matchups are presented commercial-free, allowing FOX Sports cameras and microphones to capture moments not normally available to a television audience.

“FOX Sports is excited to expand upon our commitment to broadcast innovation with our partners at the BIG EAST Conference,” said FOX Sports President, Production & Executive Producer John Entz. “We’d like to thank the four participating coaches, as well as BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman, for the support they’ve given us and the willingness to collaborate they’ve shown us from Day 1 of our partnership. We can’t wait to build upon last season’s success and showcase these four programs in an incredibly unique way.”

Play-by-play announcer Joe Davis and analyst Len Elmore are on the call for Providence at DePaul with Friars head coach Ed Cooley and Blue Demons head coach Dave Leitao mic’d up on their respective benches. As they did for last year’s all-access telecast, play-by-play announcer Lisa Byington and analyst LaChina Robinson are courtside for Creighton-Seton Hall, with live audio from Bluejays head coach Jim Flanery and Pirates head coach Tony Bozzella, who was a breakout star of last year’s commercial-free game. FS1 and FS2 go to break just twice during the game presentations – at the start and end of halftimes, allowing crews to be in place for the coaches’ locker room speeches.

In addition to the telecasts on FS1 and FS2, FOX Sports GO offers two additional live streams for each contest, with a camera and audio dedicated to each coach for the duration of the game, allowing viewers to customize their experience. The additional streams, as well as the live stream of the telecast, can be accessed via the FOX Sports GO mobile app or on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com.

“The BIG EAST is thrilled to be able to build on the success of last season’s women’s all-access game by partnering with our colleagues at FOX Sports for two more games this season,” said Rick Gentile, BIG EAST Senior Associate Commissioner, Broadcasting. “We look forward to continuing to help our partners push the broadcast innovation envelope.”

The Providence-DePaul and Creighton-Seton Hall telecasts are the latest innovations brought to fans by FOX Sports Lab, a collaborative approach to developing technical partnerships that offer fresh perspectives to viewers.

Foster Farms Bowl Features Arizona vs. Purdue Next Wednesday on FOX

Holiday Bowl Pits No. 18 Washington State Against No. 16 Michigan State Next Thursday in FS1’s First-Ever Bowl Game

NEW YORK, NY – FOX Sports concludes its coverage of the 2017 college football season with a pair of bowl games featuring the Big Ten vs. the Pac-12 on back-to-back nights. Coverage of Arizona vs. Purdue in the Foster Farms Bowl begins Wednesday, Dec. 27, at 8:00 PM ET on the FOX broadcast network, followed by No. 18 Washington State vs. No. 16 Michigan State in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl Thursday, Dec. 28, with coverage beginning at 8:30 PM ET on FS1.

Studio host Rob Stone and analysts Matt Leinart, Robert Smith and Dave Wannstedt are live from the FOX Sports studio in Los Angeles both nights for half-hour editions of FOX/FS1 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREGAME. FOX Sports’ lead college football broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson, analyst Joel Klatt and sideline reporter Jenny Taft call the SDCCU Holiday Bowl from SDCCU Stadium in San Diego, with Joe Davis, Brady Quinn and Bruce Feldman calling the Foster Farms Bowl from Levi’s® Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Both bowl games feature expanded social coverage with custom stories on Facebook and Instagram; exclusive looks from the sideline via FOX Field Pass; and prior to the Foster Farms Bowl, Davis and Quinn take viewers onto the field through Facebook Live. The SDCCU Holiday Bowl also features enhanced access and unique angles via RefCam, which enables viewers to see game action from the umpire’s perspective, and c360 Skycam, which brings fans into the stadium for pregame festivities, team warm-ups, the halftime show featuring both marching bands and a world-class fireworks display, and the postgame celebration. The c360 Skycam pregame, halftime and postgame coverage is streamed live on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Click HERE to see footage of c360Skycam in use during Notre Dame at Michigan State earlier this season.

This year marks the second consecutive season the Foster Farms Bowl has been played on the FOX broadcast network and the first time ever a college football bowl game has been televised on FS1. Both the Foster Farms Bowl and SDCCU Holiday Bowl are simulcast in Spanish on FOX Deportes. Live coverage of the annual Holiday Bowl Parade can be seen on FOX College Sports, FOX Sports San Diego and FOX Sports Detroit at 1:00 PM ET on Thursday, Dec. 28.

Gate Drops on 17-Race Global Spectacle Jan. 6 Live from Anaheim on FS1

CHARLOTTE, NC – FOX Sports and Feld Entertainment, Inc. announced today the 2018 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, television schedule, beginning with the season-opener event from Anaheim on Saturday, Jan. 6 (10:00 PM ET) live on FS1.

As the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship in the world, the 2018 Monster Energy Supercross season follows the most-watched season ever on FS1, averaging 343,000 viewers according to Nielsen Media Research. The 2017 Indianapolis event on FOX broadcast tallied 813,000 viewers, the most ever on FOX, FS1 or SPEED.

The broadcast team of Ralph Sheheen (play-by-play), Hall-of-Fame racers Jeff Emig and Ricky Carmichael (analysts) and Jenny Taft (reporter) returns to call the 17-race season, including two events – Foxborough and Salt Lake City – live on the FOX broadcast network.

With a broadcast presence that spans international audiences and global partners re-broadcasting each race in more than 200 countries, Supercross ratings continue to increase at a time when some traditional sports ratings are on the decline. Viewership of the live airing of the 2017 Monster Energy Cup, a post-season all-star race with a million-dollar payout, on FS2 was up 21 percent over last year, and the network also saw the largest audience ever for the re-airing on FOX, up 87 percent. In total, the single race had over 1.5 million viewers tuning in for the high-speed action.

The race to the 2018 Monster Energy Supercross championship is wide open for the first time in recent history. The world’s most elite endurance athletes will compete on custom-designed tracks constructed by master track builders, providing unparalleled action and competition.

“We have three riders that come into the year as championship favorites,” said Ralph Sheheen. “Eli Tomac has to feel like last year’s title slipped away after a disastrous round in MetLife Stadium. I’m sure he would love to quiet those who doubt him by winning the 2018 title. Marvin Musquin takes over for Ryan Dungey as the number one rider for Red Bull KTM. The French rider has been working hard to develop a complete program and it shows. He was on pace all last season and capped it off with a dominating performance at the Monster Energy Cup. If he carries that speed into the new season, he will be tough to beat on what is already a championship-caliber team. Finally, you have Ken Roczen. He was so fast at the beginning of 2017 before his devastating crash at the second Anaheim event. We know he is fast and we know he has the endurance. If the rehab from his horrific injuries goes as planned, not only can he win this title, but it would be one of the all-time greatest comeback stories in sports.”

Monster Energy Supercross races will also appear in Canada and the Caribbean through FOX Sports Racing, as well as be available through FOX Sports GO, the critically acclaimed app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on-the-go and now is available to 94 million subscribers.

International fans can watch the Monster Energy Supercross season unfold live by subscribing to the Supercross Video Pass, available to fans outside of the U.S. and Canada via the mobile-responsive portal at SupercrossLIVE.tv and via the Monster Energy Supercross Roku app.

2018 FOX Supercross television schedule (all times Eastern and subject to change):

The UFC 219 main event features a battle between two of the greatest female fighters ever as Cris “Cyborg” Justino (18-1, 1NC) defends her UFC women’s featherweight title against Holly Holm (11-3). An accomplished competitor who has held titles in Strikeforce and Invicta FC, feared Brazilian striker Cyborg made her long-awaited UFC debut in 2016 and won the UFC featherweight championship a year later, extending her unbeaten streak to 19 fights. A 2017 inductee of the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, Holm was a three-division world champion in the ring before making the full-time move to MMA in 2013. Since then, Holm has continued to make her mark, knocking out the previously unbeaten Ronda Rousey in 2015 to win the UFC women’s bantamweight title. At UFC 219, she’ll move up to 145 pounds to face off with Cyborg in a dream fight highly anticipated by the fans.

Leading up to UFC 219, UFC fighters offer unique, behind-the-scenes clips on FOX Sports PROcast and on the FOX UFC social pages. Follow @UFConFOX on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all updates throughout the #UFC219 fights this Saturday.

Viewers can live stream the UFC shows on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The shows are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store or on connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For the FOX Sports UFC 219 programming schedule, please see the corresponding PDF.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – It is easy to know why the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship has become the most anticipated season in series history.

Helio Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya are joining the series on a full-time basis as part of the new Acura Team Penske. World champion Fernando Alonso is part of the United Autosports team at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona. These names along with the defending Prototype champion Wayne Taylor Racing and newcomer Mazda Team Joest, plus many others will give fans plenty to watch in 2018.

Today, IMSA in conjunction with their broadcast partner FOX Sports, revealed the complete television schedule for the series. (See schedule in the PDF below).

The season begins with the drop of the green flag at the 56th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. EST. The first three hours of the race will air live on FOX. A total of 14 ½ hours will air live with those hours broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona also marks the start of coverage throughout the season on the FOX Sports Go app. The live streaming app offers coverage of all 12 WeatherTech Championship races in 2018. FSGO will simulcast all FOX Sports telecasts in their entirety and will have 12 1/2 hours of exclusive coverage during the year.

“IMSA and FOX Sports have developed a robust schedule for the 2018 WeatherTech Championship broadcasts,” IMSA vice president, marketing David Pettit said. “FOX Sports does an incredible job delivering all the drama, stories and excitement of the IMSA season and we know they will continue to do so in 2018. This partnership keeps our same presence on FOX as we did in 2017, continues to feature a small number of channel changes during our Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup events and utilizes FOX Sports GO throughout the season.

“The combination of FS1 and FS2, with the ability to watch anywhere on FSGO, provides our fans and partners a terrific viewing platform. It’s a package that will capture the essence and drama of race weekends all season long.”

Besides the first three hours of the Rolex 24, FOX will televise the BUBBA burger SportsCar Grand Prix at Long Beach on Saturday, April 14.

FS1 will feature 26 1/2 hours of WeatherTech Championship action throughout the year including six 1/2-hour live blocks from the Rolex 24 and the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. FS1 will also telecast complete events at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Road America and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. FS2 will carry 33 hours of live coverage in 2017 including full coverage of races at Mid-Ohio, Detroit and Lime Rock Park.

Nine of 12 events will have FOX Sports GO streaming with authentication for all FS1 cable subscribers. That includes all four Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup races – the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on July 1 and the Motul Petit Le Mans on Oct. 13.

UFC TONIGHT guest host Tyron Woodley on his shoulder: “The situation with my shoulder, I was trying to rehab it. I was trying to see if I could not have to undergo surgery. I was actually going to take a fight with Mr. Nate Diaz prior to the surgery and then have it afterwards, but that fight did not shake out. So therefore, I’m going to undergo not a full reconstruction, they’re going to clean my shoulder out, anchor down the parts that they need to anchor down and then it will be on the road to recovery after that.”

Woodley on the potential Diaz fight: “I think he wanted to make more money. I was offered the fight. He was offered the fight. My part of the deal was done. I think he wanted more money. The Diaz’s are hard to negotiate with. That’s why that fight didn’t happen.”

Woodley on a potential GSP fight: “What other champion is willing to give up their belt? They want to fight for the belt when they have the belt. I was willing to put it all on the line. I don’t have to do that now. Will he be coming down to 170 for me? Who knows? We’ll find out soon.”

Woodley on the FOX UFC FIGHT NIGHT headliner Robbie Lawler vs. Rafael Dos Anjos: “I love this fight. When you think about Lawler – you think of moments with him standing up over Rory MacDonald. He’s willing to brawl at all costs. He’s coming at you with crazy hooks and uppercuts. He’s been in some of the most memorable fights in UFC history. I think you can expect that if he’s 100 percent. If he’s firing on all cylinders.”

Florian on Lawler’s new approach to fighting: “Lawler’s been doing this since he’s been 19 years old – he’s been Mr. Saturday Night. But there’s a difference from that Robbie and this one now. This Robbie is throwing combinations. He isn’t looking for the knockout with every punch. He’s letting it happen organically. He’s been way more patient and has been pacing himself better. Defending his belt three times, he knows how to do it, which is a big switch.”

Woodley on how Dos Anjos will counter Lawler: “The combinations Lawler’s throwing are combinations of hooks and uppercuts. But when you throw straight punches like RDA does, you can go down the middle and beat those hooks all day long. Dos Anjos needs to utilize the ability to throw straights down the middle. And he throws low kicks. With those, you can take out that front leg and get those straight punch combinations, that’s when he’s most vicious and has the ability to win this fight.”

Florian on Lawler’s keys to victory: “First, he’s got to stop the takedown. Second, he’s got to get into boxing range and land big shots. Third, he’s got to check the leg kicks from the southpaw Dos Anjos.”

Woodley on Dos Anjos’ keys to victory: “Key one, he’s got to throw low kicks. Second, he’s got to apply constant pressure against Lawler. Third, he’s got to land the takedowns, but he has to set them up. The takedowns will slow down the fight and stop the brawl that Lawler likes.”

Florian picks Lawler to win: “Lawler has the experience, the size and the power to get it done. I think he gets it done in the third round.”

Robbie Lawler on if he thinks he’ll have a size advantage fighting a former lightweight in Rafael Dos Anjos: “He’ll be quick. I’ve fought bigger fighters and stronger fighters. So anywhere this fight goes, I’ll be alright.”

Lawler on fighting a southpaw: “It’s not that big a deal. We have a lot of lefties getting me ready. It’s just a hand coming in differently. I’ve been fighting and training with lefties a long time, so I’ll be alright.”

Lawler on if there’s a reason he hasn’t been fighting as much recently: “Circumstances. It’s not my body. It has to be the right fight at the right time. Timing. I didn’t want to come to Canada in the cold. But this was a good fight. It just has to do with timing and opponents.”

Lawler on if he wants the title fight with a win: “That’s what they’re saying. I’m not really focused on that. I’m focused on being a better fighter and a better person. But that’s what they said, but things change in this fight game all the time.”

Ricardo Lamas on if he feels pressure to deliver great fights: “I don’t feel the pressure. That’s just who I am. I’m fighting with 100 percent heart. I’m always moving forward and looking for the finish. Saturday night is the same as every other fight.”

Lamas on if the change of opponent was a problem during camp: “Not really. We had a training partner who’s the same stature as him, with even better hands. I could get my timing and distance down with a guy of his size, so it worked well.”

Lamas on if he deserves a title shot with a win: “I don’t know. If I have to prove myself again, I’ll do it. I’ve got to go out and I have to finish fights. That’s what people and the UFC want. I just have to keep it up.”

Florian on if he was surprised Georges St-Pierre vacated the middleweight title: “I was not surprised. This was a great opportunity for GSP to do something that’s never been done before. He was deserving of the shot. He wanted a big fight and he got it.”

Woodley on GSP giving up his belt: “I praise him for not holding up the division. There are a lot of divisions being held up by people not fighting or doing other things.”

Woodley on if UFC should strip champions of their belt after one year of inactivity: “I think it should be case by case. The entertainment aspect is very important. Should Conor be stripped? No. He just fought Floyd and the number of times he fought before that was a lot, as well.”

Florian on if the UFC should take away belts after a year of not fighting: “I think there should be a limit of time. Fans and fighters are waiting for their chance. I don’t think it’s fair for fighters to sit out for 12 months, with no injury.”

Florian on if Floyd Mayweather will sign a deal with the UFC: “I have no doubt that Floyd could make a billion dollars if he fought again, but he’s not fighting in the UFC’s Octagon. If he came back, it might be with the UFC’s boxing promotion.”

Woodley on Mayweather fighting in the UFC: “If he comes and fights, it’ll be against Conor McGregor. Do I think it might be a gimmick? Maybe, but there’s not anybody who wouldn’t watch it.”

Florian on if Francis Ngannou can be the best heavyweight ever: “I think he can. But we haven’t seen Francis Ngannou play with his food yet. He just knocks them out. We haven’t seen enough of his wrestling game and his jiu-jitsu game to know if he’s the best ever.”

In the main event on FOX, former UFC lightweight champion and No. 3 ranked welterweight Rafael Dos Anjos (27-9) has looked better than ever since moving up to the 170-pound division, rattling off back-to-back wins. He gets the opportunity to prove he’s ready for a potential title fight when he battles former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (28-11, 1NC). The No. 1-ranked welterweight Lawler showed off his “Ruthless” form in a July win over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and is looking for another shot at the belt with a win Saturday. FOX UFC analysts Kenny Florian and Rashad Evans preview the fight from last Sunday’s FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT POSTFIGHT SHOW here. (link to come Monday)

FS1’s UFC programming starts on Wednesday, Dec. 13 with UFC TONIGHT airing at a special time, 7:00 PM ET, with host Florian and guest host Woodley interviewing Lawler and Ricardo Lamas about their Saturday fights. On Friday, Dec. 15 (7:00 PM ET), the FS1 UFC WEIGH-IN SHOW begins with Bryant, Woodley and Bisping discussing the fighters, and Olivi reporting. The same crew gets things started on Saturday at 4:00 PM ET with the FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT PREFIGHT SHOW, previewing the evening’s fights.

Saturday’s action wraps up after the main event with the UFC FIGHT NIGHT POSTFIGHT SHOW on FS1.

Leading up to the fights, UFC fighters offer unique, behind-the-scenes clips on FOX Sports PROcast and on the FOX UFC social pages. Follow @UFConFOX on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all updates throughout the #UFCWinnipeg fights Saturday.

Viewers can live stream the UFC shows on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FOX, FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The shows are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store or on connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

Second Annual Event Supports Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund

The FOX broadcast network televises the first matchup of the second annual Never Forget Tribute Classic on Saturday, Dec. 9, as VCU faces No. 19 Seton Hall. Pregame coverage begins at 2:30 PM ET before Brian Custer, Donny Marshall and Holly Sonders have the call live from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., at 3:00 PM ET. Viewers will also hear from mic’d up Pirates head coach Kevin Willard throughout the game.

Game coverage opens with a look at the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, which provides education assistance for post-secondary study to financially needy dependents of those killed or permanently disabled in the September 11 terrorist attacks. FOX Sports cameras also followed Seton Hall on a tour of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in November, capturing the team’s reactions to the emotional experience.

Host Rob Stone and analysts Jim Jackson and Steve Lavin are in FOX Sports’ Los Angeles studio, getting fans ready for tipoff between the Rams and Pirates on FOX, plus a full day of action on FS1. Coverage on FS1 gets underway at 11:30 AM ET with a half-hour edition of FS1 COLLEGE HOOPS TIP-OFF prior to Marquette at Wisconsin at 12:00 PM ET, followed by another in-state rivalry matchup between Nebraska and Creighton at 2:30 PM ET. Then, to close out the afternoon, No. 13 Xavier hosts Colorado at 5:00 PM ET.

This week’s full college basketball schedule on the FOX Sports family of networks, including broadcasters, can be found HERE.

NHRA Today Scores Pre-Race Time Slot

Four Events on FOX Broadcast, Including Iconic U.S. Nationals, Highlight 24-Race Schedule

CHARLOTTE, NC – FOX Sports and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) today announce the release of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series television schedule, highlighted by live FOX broadcast network coverage of the “Western Swing” (Denver, Sonoma and Seattle) and the iconic U.S. Nationals from Indianapolis on Labor Day.

NHRA races also will appear in Canada and the Caribbean through FOX Sports Racing, as well as be available through FOX Sports GO, the critically acclaimed app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on the go and now is available to 94 million subscribers.

2018 FOX NHRA Television Broadcast Schedule (All times ET and subject to change):

NEW YORK, NY – This Sunday, Dec. 10, FOX NFL SUNDAY leaves behind the friendly confines of Studio A on the FOX lot in Los Angeles’ Century City, in favor of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of NFL Week 14’s highly anticipated AMERICA’S GAME OF THE WEEK matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams. The announcement was made today by John Entz, FOX Sports President of Production & Executive Producer.

The NFL’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY, kicks off its on-site special broadcasting from the Olympic Cauldron at the Coliseum at Noon ET with co-hosts Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee, analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Strahan and the NFL’s premier NFL insider Jay Glazer. The OT, FOX Sports’ NFL postgame show, closes the day’s action on-site at the Coliseum. This Sunday’s visit marks the second time this season that FOX NFL SUNDAY has gone on the road with the first being its broadcast from Naval Station Norfolk in honor of Veterans Day.

“This Sunday’s game is arguably the biggest game of the season in the NFC,” said Entz. “Having a marquee matchup this late in the season taking place in our backyard lends itself to this kind of unique on-site visit for our pregame show.”

FOX NFL KICKOFF, the network’s early NFL pregame show hosted by Charissa Thompson with analysts Tony Gonzalez, Michael Vick, Dave Wannstedt and Colin Cowherd, which immediately precedes FOX NFL SUNDAY each week during the NFL season, will remain in FOX Sports’ Century City studio this Sunday, airing at its regular 11:00 AM ET time slot.